You’ll have seen that Witch Tripper are regulars in our live review section and there’s a reason for that. The hardest working band in the UK, they are immense live and are gearing up for their Sophie slot at BOA this year. Bassist Chris Stoff Daughton took the lead in this interview and points out that maths was never my strong point!!
Paul: It’s been an astounding five years since you headlined that Jaeger Stage at BOA 2015. Do you sometimes take stock and wonder how the hell it all happened?
Chris: Thanks Paul, Technically 4 year’s haha! Yeah sometimes, but when you have a vision, drive, determination and love for doing it, it just sometimes kind of happens!
Paul: My first encounter with you was the following year on the New Blood Stage when you kicked the morning into next week with a fiery show which you’ve repeated every time since. What do you remember about winning the M2TM final which got you there?
Chris: Wow, it was very messy! I remember that, It was at our now closed down Intake Club in Mansfield which was a great venue, It was one of the last gigs on the last weekend it was open, so I think it was absolutely rammed, by the time we’d played and got around the announcement we were all well on our way! I just remember everyone chanting and Mr Rob Bannister announcing us and everyone going mental!
Paul: What about that show at Bloodstock? Was it fun or were you a bit nervous?
Chris: The New Blood stage? Considering we were on at 10.30am on Friday we didn’t really get chance to get nervous, I think we were worried about no one being there so early, but we were proven wrong! It’s a massive blur and was over in a blink of an eye, thankfully it’s on YouTube if I ever need to remind myself haha!!
Paul: It’s been an astounding five years since you headlined that Jaeger Stage at BOA 2015. Do you sometimes take stock and wonder how the hell it all happened?
Chris: Thanks Paul, Technically 4 year’s haha! Yeah sometimes, but when you have a vision, drive, determination and love for doing it, it just sometimes kind of happens!
Paul: My first encounter with you was the following year on the New Blood Stage when you kicked the morning into next week with a fiery show which you’ve repeated every time since. What do you remember about winning the M2TM final which got you there?
Chris: Wow, it was very messy! I remember that, It was at our now closed down Intake Club in Mansfield which was a great venue, It was one of the last gigs on the last weekend it was open, so I think it was absolutely rammed, by the time we’d played and got around the announcement we were all well on our way! I just remember everyone chanting and Mr Rob Bannister announcing us and everyone going mental!
Paul: What about that show at Bloodstock? Was it fun or were you a bit nervous?
Chris: The New Blood stage? Considering we were on at 10.30am on Friday we didn’t really get chance to get nervous, I think we were worried about no one being there so early, but we were proven wrong! It’s a massive blur and was over in a blink of an eye, thankfully it’s on YouTube if I ever need to remind myself haha!!
Paul: Talking of nerves, you guys are so well drilled now that you never seem phased. Do the old butterflies ever appear?
Chris: Yeah course, there’s no amount of practice or experience that can take that away, especially as we progress on to bigger stages, thinking of the Sophie Stage now, yeah I’m nervous now, what if I snap a string, what if my amp blows up haha, but we do this over 100 times a year, so everything will be fine, a few beers beforehand will calm the nerves. The nerves help prepare us, plus there’s a degree of excitement too!
Paul: Two albums in including last year’s fabulous I, Of The Storm. Did the response to that album exceed expectations?
Chris: Yeah definitely, we’re proud of it, The first album, came out before we played Bloodstock, we kind of rushed it to get it down and have something to give out, but it didn’t quite capture us, I, Of The Storm captured us at that moment, that first year we did 100 odd gigs, over 18 months later, we’re prepping for the next one now and we can’t wait to get it down.
Paul: What are your favourite tracks to play live from that album?
Chris: Me personally, I Love Roll The Dice a slight move away from our fast and heavy sound, but it’s all groove and riff’s man, a good breath catcher between the beginning and end of the set, I love the groove and instant hitting of Poonstar and the bass I get to lay down in Hellbound.
Paul: You are one of the hardest working bands in the UK, if not Europe. When do you sleep?
Chris: Tuesdays! Haha! We all work full time too so it’s even harder, but average weekend, we’re out Friday / Saturday until late, I kind of sleep in then at the weekend, then back to the grind Monday; just means I don’t get a lot of chance to mow the lawn or iron my clothes, just playing catch up all the time, it’s worth it though, you just kind of realise what time you do have.
Paul: You tour an awful lot. Is it more fun to play to new places (some of the Wales outposts recently for example) or is it better to play to the local crowds?
Chris: Both, we love playing new places, for us that’s the main thing for this year and the future, going somewhere you have never been before and seeing the public walk in with our merch on! It’s a humbling feeling, obviously locally, it’s always a great party and we try to reserve local gigs for special events now, earlier this month we put on a charity gig to support motor neuron disease. Back in Nottingham we have Macmillanfest coming up in September, we get to play the Rescue Rooms which is a great venue for us, then in October we’ve just joined the bill for Mosh Against Cancer put together by Paddy from Lawn Mower Deth / Line OF Fire, a very good friend of ours.
Paul: You’ve covered thousands of miles. Which gigs have given you the most enjoyment?
Chris: All of them man, big small, far, close. It’s a blast, this is our life, this is what we do, Obviously some of the larger ones have been exciting, HRH Metal at the 02 in Birmingham was mental, Next year will mark our 3rd trip to Ibiza and that’s just amazing, The opportunities you get we are so thankful for, you just have to remember how and why you are there, and that’s down to live music lovers man.
Paul: You also do a lot for the SOPHIE Foundation as well as other charities. Why do they mean so much to you?
Chris: It’s easy to put on a gig, earn a nice wad and walk off and on to the next one, not to quote Spiderman, but with great power comes great responsibility, not that we have either, but we’re all still human too and are affected by the crap that life throws at you, so for us it makes sense to give as much back as you can. I can’t see us doing a charity marathon or something like that, so we just do what we know and that’s put on a good gig.
Chris: Yeah course, there’s no amount of practice or experience that can take that away, especially as we progress on to bigger stages, thinking of the Sophie Stage now, yeah I’m nervous now, what if I snap a string, what if my amp blows up haha, but we do this over 100 times a year, so everything will be fine, a few beers beforehand will calm the nerves. The nerves help prepare us, plus there’s a degree of excitement too!
Paul: Two albums in including last year’s fabulous I, Of The Storm. Did the response to that album exceed expectations?
Chris: Yeah definitely, we’re proud of it, The first album, came out before we played Bloodstock, we kind of rushed it to get it down and have something to give out, but it didn’t quite capture us, I, Of The Storm captured us at that moment, that first year we did 100 odd gigs, over 18 months later, we’re prepping for the next one now and we can’t wait to get it down.
Paul: What are your favourite tracks to play live from that album?
Chris: Me personally, I Love Roll The Dice a slight move away from our fast and heavy sound, but it’s all groove and riff’s man, a good breath catcher between the beginning and end of the set, I love the groove and instant hitting of Poonstar and the bass I get to lay down in Hellbound.
Paul: You are one of the hardest working bands in the UK, if not Europe. When do you sleep?
Chris: Tuesdays! Haha! We all work full time too so it’s even harder, but average weekend, we’re out Friday / Saturday until late, I kind of sleep in then at the weekend, then back to the grind Monday; just means I don’t get a lot of chance to mow the lawn or iron my clothes, just playing catch up all the time, it’s worth it though, you just kind of realise what time you do have.
Paul: You tour an awful lot. Is it more fun to play to new places (some of the Wales outposts recently for example) or is it better to play to the local crowds?
Chris: Both, we love playing new places, for us that’s the main thing for this year and the future, going somewhere you have never been before and seeing the public walk in with our merch on! It’s a humbling feeling, obviously locally, it’s always a great party and we try to reserve local gigs for special events now, earlier this month we put on a charity gig to support motor neuron disease. Back in Nottingham we have Macmillanfest coming up in September, we get to play the Rescue Rooms which is a great venue for us, then in October we’ve just joined the bill for Mosh Against Cancer put together by Paddy from Lawn Mower Deth / Line OF Fire, a very good friend of ours.
Paul: You’ve covered thousands of miles. Which gigs have given you the most enjoyment?
Chris: All of them man, big small, far, close. It’s a blast, this is our life, this is what we do, Obviously some of the larger ones have been exciting, HRH Metal at the 02 in Birmingham was mental, Next year will mark our 3rd trip to Ibiza and that’s just amazing, The opportunities you get we are so thankful for, you just have to remember how and why you are there, and that’s down to live music lovers man.
Paul: You also do a lot for the SOPHIE Foundation as well as other charities. Why do they mean so much to you?
Chris: It’s easy to put on a gig, earn a nice wad and walk off and on to the next one, not to quote Spiderman, but with great power comes great responsibility, not that we have either, but we’re all still human too and are affected by the crap that life throws at you, so for us it makes sense to give as much back as you can. I can’t see us doing a charity marathon or something like that, so we just do what we know and that’s put on a good gig.
Paul: We know you play a groove ridden hard rock. What’s on the turntable, phone, CD or memory stick in the Witch Tripper camp now? Any standout albums for 2019?
Chris: Well we all have a very eclectic taste and I’m sure 90% of it will come as a shock to most haha, for me personally, I’m still riding off Clutch’s last album, Book of Bad Decisions. We’re not really down with the kids, I like to find “new” music, but this is usually old stuff I’ve discovered rather than new releases. I’ve just invested in Spotify and at the moment I’m blasting: Earthless, Cactus, The Groundhogs to name a few.
Paul: Let’s end back at BOA. I know you go every year. What do you enjoy about the festival?
Chris: It’s home, I think I first went in 2012, when Europe headlined the Sunday night [I think that was actually 2009 – Paul], I don’t remember a lot to be honest, after that I remember when Machine Head headlined and when Motörhead did but it wasn’t until 2015 when we first played that it’s now become our yearly pilgrimage, we owe the festival a lot for giving us these opportunities and it’s only right we bear witness to the next wave coming through, plus that it’s close by, good beer and we know a hell of a lot of people there now.
Paul: You’ve got a big stage to fill on the Sophie Tent this year. What can we expect from Witch Tripper?
Chris: Everything we have man, like any gig, we put our heart and soul into it, and I hope that’s come across and hopefully who ever watches will see that. In descriptive form, riffs, sweat, bear, good times!
Chris: Well we all have a very eclectic taste and I’m sure 90% of it will come as a shock to most haha, for me personally, I’m still riding off Clutch’s last album, Book of Bad Decisions. We’re not really down with the kids, I like to find “new” music, but this is usually old stuff I’ve discovered rather than new releases. I’ve just invested in Spotify and at the moment I’m blasting: Earthless, Cactus, The Groundhogs to name a few.
Paul: Let’s end back at BOA. I know you go every year. What do you enjoy about the festival?
Chris: It’s home, I think I first went in 2012, when Europe headlined the Sunday night [I think that was actually 2009 – Paul], I don’t remember a lot to be honest, after that I remember when Machine Head headlined and when Motörhead did but it wasn’t until 2015 when we first played that it’s now become our yearly pilgrimage, we owe the festival a lot for giving us these opportunities and it’s only right we bear witness to the next wave coming through, plus that it’s close by, good beer and we know a hell of a lot of people there now.
Paul: You’ve got a big stage to fill on the Sophie Tent this year. What can we expect from Witch Tripper?
Chris: Everything we have man, like any gig, we put our heart and soul into it, and I hope that’s come across and hopefully who ever watches will see that. In descriptive form, riffs, sweat, bear, good times!
Paul: And after BOA? What’s the rest of the year got in store?
Chris: Well let’s see, in the background we’re working on new material, but we continue our constant gigging, we have a fair bit still to go. Next big gig after Bloodstock would be HRH Doom V Stoner in Sheffield at the end of September, we do have some awesome stuff for next year too, we’re just not allowed to say yet haha!
Paul: Thanks so much Chris. See you in about nine days!!
Chris: Thanks Paul, always good to see you mate, beers on me at Bloodstock dude!
And if that doesn’t whet your appetite then there is something wrong with you. Sunday 11th August. Sophie Tent. Be there.
Chris: Well let’s see, in the background we’re working on new material, but we continue our constant gigging, we have a fair bit still to go. Next big gig after Bloodstock would be HRH Doom V Stoner in Sheffield at the end of September, we do have some awesome stuff for next year too, we’re just not allowed to say yet haha!
Paul: Thanks so much Chris. See you in about nine days!!
Chris: Thanks Paul, always good to see you mate, beers on me at Bloodstock dude!
And if that doesn’t whet your appetite then there is something wrong with you. Sunday 11th August. Sophie Tent. Be there.